Apparatus for perforating record-cards.



No. 682,I97. Patented Sept. I0, I90l. H. HLLERITH. APPARATUS FOR PERFURATING RECORD CARDS.

(Applicationl led May 17, 1901.)

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APPARATUS FUR PERFOHTING RECORD CARDS.

(Application filed May 17, 1901.)

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UNITED STATES Prion.

PATENT" HERMAN HOLLERITI-I, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SIEECFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 682,197, dated September 10, 1901.

Application filed May 17, 1901.

To all whom it may concern/ Be it known that I, HERMAN HOLLERITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Washington, District of Columbia, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Perforating Record-Cards, ot' which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this lo specification. i

My invention relates to apparatus for perforating record-cards; and the object thereof is the provision of such an apparatus by which the record-cards used by me in the tabular 5 tion of statistics according to the Hollerith tabulating system may be prepared for the operation of the tabulating apparatus employed in such system and the items comprising the data to be tabulated may be rapidly and aczo curately transferred to the cards. The cards generally employed are rectangular in shape and are provided with figures or characters arranged in groups, each consisting of one or more vertical rows comprising a cipher and z5 the nine digits, so that Ithe digits of the same value will be in the same horizontal row, In perforating the cards it is essential. dat there shall be one punch for each of the nine digits and the cipher, so that any gure in each 3o vertical row may bepunched out at will. It is also essential that in each card there shall be punched ,only one iigure in each vertical row and that the card should be fed automatically exactly the distance between the Vertical lines of figures when a punch is operated and that the operator should be able to instantly adjust the card in position to Qfnmence the punching in any group and f/also to feed the card from an intermediate 4o position at which the punching may end to its removable position by a single operation without operating the punches, thus avoiding the Waste of time which would occur if under such circumstances it were necessary to move the card step by step for any 'considerable portion of its length.

My invention, in which the objects above mentioned are attained, comprises a traveling carrier for the card, a series of key-op- 5o erated punches arranged at right angles to 'the path in which the carriage moves, so that Lin any position of the card either the cipher Serial No. 60.75 2. `(No model.)

or any of the nine digits may be punched by the operation of the proper key, mechanism by which the carrier is fed to bring the next row of figures under the punches when any one of the punch-keys is operated, thus pre-A venting the accidental punching of two figures in the same row, means for permitting the starting of the carrier from anyintermediate position, and mechanism for moving the carrier to the end of its travel without actuating the punch-keys, so as to avoid the necessity of feeding the carrier step by step from an intermediate position. It also comprises other features and details hereinafter referred to, and pointed out more specifically' in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan View of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2 2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a view of the under side of the ap-4 paratus. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4 4, Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a transverse sec tion on the line 5 5, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a plan of the under surface of the stripper-plate through which the punches operate. Fig. 7 is a detail of the levers by which motion is transmitted from the key-levers to the escapement device, and Fig. 8 is a detail of the escapement.

Similar reference charac ters are employed to designate corresponding parts in all the views.

The frame l is in general outline rectangular in shape and supports the bed-plate 2, which is formed with a slot 3, in which the card-carrier travels, extending substantially from end to end of the frame. The card-carrier comprises the two end pieces 4 and 5, connected by the toothed bar 6, which constitutes a rack with which the feeding devices cooperate. The distance between. the end pieces 4 and 5 is exactly the length of a card A, and the end pieces project into the longitudinally-extending side slots 7, formed in the frame l below the bed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The end piece 4 is connected with the motor or spring drum 8 by a cord 9 or other eXible connection and vis also provided with a handle l0, by which the carrier may be readily moved from its initial into any intermediate position. The movement of the lcard-carrier under the action of the spring- ICO drum 8 is controlled by engaging devices connected with' afsd actuated by the punch-keys and coperating with the toothed rack o'.

'This engaging device-comprises a movable the short arm of the bell-crank 14. The long arm of the bell-crank projects through a slot in the side of the frame and is connected by the rod 15 with the lower end of the vertical arm ofthe bell-crank lever le'. The horizontal arm of the lever 16 carries the universal bar 17, which is depressed when any one of the punch-levers 1S is actuated by its key. The collar 12 is adjustable on the bar l1, and a coil-spring 19 is carried on the bar under compression between the collar and the side of t-he frame. The bar 1l also carries a dog 20, which by the reciprocation of said bar is moved into and out of engagement with the teeth on one side ofthe bar 6. A lever 2l is pivoted to the support 22, secured to the under side of the frame.- One end of the lever 21 is by the spring 23 held against the key 24 in theside of the frame. To the opposite end of the lever 21 is pivoted a pawl 25. The lever 2l is held against the projecting end of the dog 2O by the spring 23, so that the dog and pawl will reciprocate together when the bar ll is actuated. The rack 6 is normally engaged and held by the pawl 25, the movement of which is limited by the stop 2G. When, however, the bar 11 is reciprocated to bring` the dog 2l) into engagement with the rack, the pawl 25 is released and under the actionv of spring 27 swings past the tooth-line p into position to engage the next tooth and arrest the movement ofthe rack when the dog is Withdrawn. By pressing the key 24 inwardly the lever 21 will be swung to withdraw the pawl 25 from engagement with the rack with-f out reciprocating the bar 1l. VVIn this manner the card-carrier may be releasedfrom the control of the engaging devices at any intermediate position and under the action of the drum 8 will return to its initial position without the necessity of manipulating the keys to move it slowly step by step to that point. A stop 28 is provided to arrest the card-carrier at the end of its travel, and at the opposite end of the frame is the adjustable stop 29, by which the initial position ot' the card under the punches at the commencement of the punching operation may be regulated. A plate 30 is secured to each side of the frame slightly more than the thickness of a card above the bed-plate. These plates` extend from the frame 31, which carries the punches, to the end of the bed-plate and serve to guide the cards and prevent them from buckling. The end piece 5 may be made adjustable on the rack 6, if desired, to provide for cards of dierent lengths.

The frame 31, which carries the punches is secured above the bed-plate by screws ni o2,

which enter lugs 33, formed onV the punchframe and on the side of the bed-plate. The punches 32 are arranged in a line which eX- tends across the line of travel of the card. The punches are formed with heads which constitute bearings for the punch-levers 1S and compression springs 3b, which bear against the under side of the heads of the punches, hold them up against the punch-levers, and serve to lift the punches and levers after they have been depressed by the operator. Each punch-lever 13 is provided with an adjustable fulcrum 37, carried by the plate 38, which bridges the recess formed in the top of the punch-frame to receive the punch-levers. In order to secure a compact construction and at the' same i time allow suiiicient room between the punch-keys 39 for convenient operation, I arrange the keys in three rowsVas shown, each row thus necessarily being at a different distance from the punches. Itis importantin this character of work,where the apparatus to be commercial must be operated rapidly and for long periods consecutively, that all the punch-keys should have the same stroke-that is, the same amount of motion-and in the saine direction, preferably in a right line. To secure this, I mount the punch-keys upon a platform which consists of two guide-plates 40 and 41, apertured to receive the key-Shanks and supported upon posts 42, secured to the frame ofthe machine. The end of each punch-lever is forked to embrace the shank of its key, and a pin 43 rests loosely therein, forming a positive engagement between the lever and the key on their downward movement, with sufficient lost motion to allow for the depression of the lever until arrested by the contact of the keywith the guide-plate 40. W'ashers 44, of any suitable resilient material, are secured to the below the keys to reduce the noise and shocko-fithe impact. Each key is numbered to correspond with the figure which its punch will perforateg the card.

The under surface ofthe punch-frame 3l is recessed to receive the stripper-plate 45 and also to provide the necessary spagebetween the latter and the lower guide-platen@ for the passage of the card, as shown in Fig. 4. Curved lingers 47 are formed on the stripperplate 45 to facilitate the passage of the end of the card under the punches when it 'iLbeing inserted in the carrier.

IIO

In operating the apparatus, the carrier bethe other end of the bed-plate until the end contacts with the stop 29, the pawl 25 swinging on its pivot slightly and permitting the, rack-teeth to pass on this backward move- The punch-key bearment of the carrier.

- ing the number which it is desired to perforate in the first row of figures at the left of the card will then be depressed and that figure will be punched out of the card. The downward movement of the punch-lever will operate the universal bar 17, andthe bellcranks 16 and 14 will be actuated to carry the dog 2O into engagement with the rack 6, releasing the pawl 25 from such engagelnent. The latter will then swing past that tooth on the rack, and when the bar ll is retracted by the action of the spring 19 the dog 20 will be drawn out of engagement with the rack and the latter will advance one tooth until arrested by engaging with the pawl 25. This will feed the carrier forward one space and bring the next vertical row of figures under the punches, when the above operation will be repeated. It will thus be observed that it is impossible by the regular operation of the machine to punch more than one hole in any one vertical row of iigures. VJhen the perforation on the cardis completed, the carrier will have reached its initial position, and the card is removed and another oneinserted and perforated as before.

I have illustrated and described a preferred form of apparatusembodying my invention; but it is to be understood that in selecting such apparatus for this purpose I have not intended to limit my invention in any Way.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a record-perforating apparatus the combination of a reciprocating card-carrier, a plurality of punches arranged in a row extending across the-path of movement of the card, a key connected with each punch for imparting movement thereto, a motor connected with the carrier to move it in one direction, an engaging device for holding the carrier in position under the punches and connections between each key and the engaging device by which the operation of any punch will actuate the latter to release the card-carrier and permit it to move under the action of the motor to the next predetermined position, substantially as shown and described.

2. In an apparatus for perforating recordcards the combination of a reciprocating cardcarrier, a plurality of punches arranged in a row extending across the path of movement of the card, akey connected with each punch for impartingmovement thereto, a motor connected with the carrier for moving it in one direction, an engaging device for holding the carrier in position under the punches, connections between each key and the engaging device by which the operation of any punch Will actuate the latter to release the card-carrier and permit it to move under the action of the motor to the next predetermined position and a key operating independently of the punches for releasing the carrier from the control of the engaging device, substantially as shown and described.

In an apparatus for perforating recordcards the combination of a bed-plate for supporting the card, a reciprocating carrier by which the card is moved along the bed-plate, a series of punches and operating-keys, a motor connected with the carrier for moving it in one direction, feeding devices actuated by the punch-keys and comprising a yieldinglysupported member. by which the feeding of the carrier is controlled in such direction and which is movable by the carrier out of locking engagement therewith when it is moved in the reverse direction, whereby the carrier may be instantly moved to commence the punching at any intermediate position7 substantially as shown and described.

4. In a record-perforating apparatus 4the combination of a reciprocating card-carrier, a plurality of punches arranged in a single row, a lever for each punch, a plurality of keys, one for each punch, arranged in groups at different distances Vfrom the punclies,guides for confining the keys to a rectilinear movement in the same direction, connections between each key and its lever and a stop for limiting the operating movement of each key, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a record-perforating apparatus the combination of a bed-plate upon which the card is supported, a plurality of punches arranged in a single line near the center of the bed-plate, keys for actuating the same, a slot in the bed-plate on each side of the punches, a card-carrier comprising pieces which engage the card at each end, guide-plates for the card overlapping one end of the bed-plate, a tension device connected with the carrier and means actuated by the keys for feeding the carrier a predetermined distance each time a punch is operated, substantially as shown and described.

6. In apparatus for perforating recordcards the combination of a bed-plate forsupporting the card, a punch-frame mounted transversely above the bed-plate near its center, a plurality of spring-supported punches arranged in said punch-frame, alever for each punch, a plurality of keys, one for each punchlever, supported above the bed-plate, a slot iu `the bed-plate extending longitudinallyon both sides of the punch-frame, a card-carrier comprising card-engaging end pieces which travel in the slot, a tension device connected with the carrier and feeding devices for the carrier connected with and actuated by the punch-keys, substantially as shown and described.

7. In apparatus for perforating recoi" cards the combination of a bed-plate f porting the card, a punch-frame transversely above the bed-plate ne ter, a plurality of spring-supp it arranged in said frame, a leve each punch and fulcrumed ICO Iig

frame, aplnrality of keys, one for each'punchlever, supported'above the bed-plate and :L universal bar supported by the punch-frame with which the punch -levcrs all engage, a card carrier, tension and feeding devices therefor and connections between the universal bar and the feeding,r devices, substmr tiztlly as shown and described.

8. In apparatus for punching record-cards the combination of a bed-plaie for supporting the card, a carrier for moving the card on the bed-plate, a punch-frame mounted transversely above the bed-plate near its center,

a, plurality of spring-supported punches arranged in said punch-frame, a lever for each punch, an adjustable fulcrum for each lever` supported by the punch-frame, keys for said levers, feeding devices for the carrier and operating connections between the keys and the levers, substantially as shown and described.

HERMAN HOLLERITH.

Witnesses:

OTTO E. BRAITMAYER, EDWIN P. REA. 

